Story and photos by David F. Ashton
The idea behind the annual “Aquifer Adventure”, put on jointly by the Portland Water Bureau (PWB) and the Columbia Slough Watershed Council (CSWC), is to acquaint people with water.

We’re not talking about the pouring rain that fell during most of the event, mind you – but the City’s alternate source of drinking water: Groundwater.

“We teach kids and their parents about the importance of our groundwater in a fun way,” smiled CSWC’s volunteer coordinator, “Capn’ Dagger Dana”, Klein Hesselink. “Every year we provide many different educational activities. And yes, we’ve had a pretty good turnout, considering that it’s really been raining.”

CSWC’s executive director, Jane Van Dyke, was all smiles, even a an inch of rain poured down during the September 18 event. “The best part is seeing all the kids coming dressed in pirate costume,” Van Dyke told us.

“People really enjoy getting dressed up for this is one of our major, public events,” Van Dyke pointed out. “By the reception we receive, we think we’ve come upon a fun way to give good information about protecting our aquifer.”

Rowan Clark, and his dad Matt, duck into a booth and learn about groundwater around the world.

With Van Dyke was PWB’s Underground Water Protection Program maven, Rebecca Geisen,who reframed the weather: “Rain? We prefer to think of it as a natural, safe recharging of our groundwater supply!”

Rain or shine, Geisen added, “At this event, we take on the topic of protecting groundwater – something that is difficult to see and understand – and make it fun and understandable for both kids and adults.”

Missing at this year’s event, we learned from Geisen, were the pirate-guided canoe rides on the slough. “Our canoe dock, gazebo, and signage has also fallen victim to heavy vandalism in recent months. The Portland Water Bureau is currently reviewing different options for the launch at 16650 NE Airport Way.”

> To learn more about Portland’s groundwater system, see PWB’s website: CLICK HERE.

> And, to discover more about the Columbia Slough Watershed Council, see their official website: CLICK HERE.